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Apple Walnut Cheesecake

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This Apple Walnut Cheesecake is creamy, rich and delicious, topped with a Cinnamon & Sugar Apple Walnut topping that gives it great flavor and crunch!

What is your favorite cheesecake flavor?

This is a long-time fan and family favorite.  Notice I mention fan before family, yes?

Apple Walnut Cheesecake | Inspiration Kitchen Well that, right there, just proves it’s a favorite.  I mean, your family can’t really say they don’t like something you’ve baked, right?  Because if they did say that, you might (perhaps) slip a little sumthin’-sumthin’ in it, that they don’t like, the next time.

Apple Walnut Cheesecake - inspirationkitchen.comLike cucumbers, okra or red pepper flakes.  You know what I’m sayin’?  We cooks can hide that stuff.

“Mmmmmm good…”  they say, moaning ~ yet, you can see the slight question of fear in their eye.

Apple Walnut Cheesecake - inspirationkitchen.comNope.  Family stays loyal, no matter how bad it is.  Ya gotta love family.

Buttttt…, you can’t always trust them.  Haha!  JK.   🙂

Ok, let’s get real.  This cheesecake.  “Mmmmmm good…”  For real.

Apple Walnut Cheesecake 03 | Inspiration Kitchen

This is one of the most requested recipes I get from friends.  They love it.

IMO, the key to making this recipe is that you need to have tart (pucker up like your grandmother) Granny Smith apples.

Apple Cheesecake | Inspiration KitchenThis is important.

Why?  Well, because… tart apples when mixed with rich, creamy, indulgent Cream Cheese Cheesecake with their tart Granny Smith apple selves, dripping with a crisp, sweet, cinnamon/sugar and walnut topping…  seriously = to die for.

Apple Cheesecake | Inspiration Kitchen

You will love this Apple Cheesecake with Cinnamon, Sugar & Walnut Topping!

p.s.  When I chop the walnuts for the crust, I use a food processor so that they’re very fine.  For the top, however, I hand-break them apart so I have larger pieces for a prettier topping and better crunch.

Enjoy!

Apple Cheesecake | Inspiration Kitchen
Print Recipe

Apple Walnut Cheesecake

Course: Dessert
Author: Kristi

Ingredients

Crust

  • 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts **
  • 3 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup real butter

Filling

  • 2 8 ounce packages Cream Cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs

Topping

  • 4 cups apple slices peeled, cored and sliced thin
  • 1/2 cup sugar*
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts **

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Crust

  • Mix graham crackers, walnuts, sugar, cinnamon and melted butter together and press into the bottom of a 9" springform pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

Filling

  • Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla at medium speed with an electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing at low speed after each addition until well blended. Pour over crust.

Topping

  • Toss apples with sugar and cinnamon until well-coated. Spoon apple mixture over filling and sprinkle with chopped walnuts.
  • Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until center is almost set. Run knife or metal spatula around rim of plan to loosen cheesecake. Cool before removing cake from pan. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
  • Serve!

Notes

* used 1/2 cup of sugar because my home-grown Granny Smith apples were really tart! You may be able to use 1/3 cup sugar, depending on how sweet your apples are.
** typically I make this with pecans, not walnuts, so feel free to substitute pecans - they are rich and fabulous in this!

Apple Walnut Cheesecake

Comments

  1. ananda says

    that’s genius! apple crisp and cheese cake 2-in-1!! LOVE LOVE!!! =) your apple tree is beautiful too!! ( oh kristi i made a comment on your salmon quiche but the page went blank, so it never got through)

    Reply

  2. Josefine {The Smoothie Lover} says

    Yumm… I have a serious obsession with cheesecake and this looks so good. An excuse for making it even at Christmas time 😉
    I’ve actually not tried that many different flavours. But I love it topped with berries or the lemon-poppyseed kind .

    Reply

  5. Marcie says

    I can see why this is your most requested recipe — it looks SO creamy, and with the walnuts in the crust, that streusel, and pucker up your mouth tart apples? Heaven! A big slice of heaven. Pinned.

    Reply

  8. Tash says

    Oh my goodness Kristi!! I knew from the name alone that this one was gonna be a stunner 😉 Perfect for Christmas – it might even be making an appearance on our table this year actually 🙂 Thanks for the recipe, fantastic photos too, mouth watering!

    Sorry to have seemingly disappeared, life is crazy right now. Hopefully I will be able to join in on the baking fun again during Christmas break! I miss all of the homemade goodies :'(

    Have a fab weekend 🙂

    Reply

    • Kristi says

      Thanks Tash! Life is always crazy during the holidays – so no worries. It’s always lovely to hear from you! Have a beautiful week, my friend! xoxo

      Reply

  11. Kelly says

    This cheesecake looks incredible!!! I love that you combined an apple crisp and cheesecake! I could definitely see why this is your most requested! It sounds amazing and that sugary apple walnut topping is totally calling my name! I

    Reply

  13. Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says

    I think this is now my favorite cheesecake! lol! It looks amazing and you SOLD that apple walnut topping! I am a fan of any nut crust. Mmmmm. Cheesecakes and apples and nuts and brown sugar. Apparently I don’t hide evil surprises inside what I make enough because my husband has NO problem telling me exactly what he thinks until I say, “ENOUGH! I get it. You hated it. Moving on.” Seriously that man… But I’ll fix his wagon with your tip…tee hee! 😉

    Reply

  16. Samina | The Cupcake Confession says

    You are so right Kristi!!!! I always serve food to my mum with an advance warning – they have to say it’s good NO MATTER WHAT ! hahahahah!!! But seriously though, who can say NO to cheesecake???? And especially a cheesecake like this with apples, walnuts and cinnamon? I need this in my life! <3

    Reply

  22. Renee@Two in the Kitchen says

    Ha,ha Kristi, you always make me laugh!!! okra or red pepper flakes hidden in the recipe; HA, your family better watch out!! 😉 In all honesty, there would be no reason to pretend to like this cheesecake. It looks amazing!! 🙂

    Reply

  26. Amy (Savory Moments) says

    This cheesecake looks SO good! I love apples, but have never used them with a cheesecake. I’m pinning this for sure so I remember it for when I’m wondering what to do with all my apples next fall after we go picking.

    Reply

    • Kristi says

      Thanks Amy – I’m so glad to give you a recipe that will help with your apples next year. I know what you mean – I have an apple tree that’s very generous!

      Reply

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